Shuttleworth Collection

Gosh I picked the coldest day to visit the Shuttleworth Collection. I did a loop of the hangars with cry free until the last hangar so had to do a dash back for a feed.

• Hangar 1: WWI
• Hangar 2: WWII
• Hangar 3: Clayton & Shuttleworth
• Hangar 4: Leading Edge
• Hangar 5: Transport Pioneers
• Hangar 6: Flying High

Highlights for me was the CSC plane which won the Great Britain to Australia air race, the Spitfire and the exhibition of women in aviation. After a feed Reyka fell asleep and I daren't wake her so I visited the frozen hangars for a second time and then back to the café for yet another visit.

Shuttleworth Swiss Garden

When I said yes to having the Shuttleworth ticket to include the Swiss Garden (a regency garden), I didn't actually know what I was paying for. I absolutely loved it! From the fernery and grotto, to the Indian Kiosk, to the Swiss Cottage...it was all so surprising! I especially loved the little chapel with it's window beaming in beautiful colours over the stone bible.

King's College Chapel, Cambridge

Since starting Shared Parental Leave, I've vowed to get out and about. Today I visited King's College Chapel in Cambridge. It's not really Ali's thing, so off Reyka and I went on the park and ride to Cambridge. First some shopping to spend Christmas vouchers and then Nando's for lunch.

A quick stop at the plaque of Alan Turing on the way to King's. £9 for the ticket, which is an annual ticket if you gift aid the fee. So, Reyka and I can go again and again. We read that Scholars have very generous Scholarships to attend King's (14 men and 2 organ Scholars). They board and are equired to sing five days of the week, as well as their usual studies. Famous Scholars include Alan Turing and Rupert Brooke.

We watched Carols at Kings on the TV this year, so it was great to stand in the choir and marvel at the amazing wood carving and stained glass windows. A great museum about Henry VI and Henry VII. Including something I didn't know about Greyhounds. They are one of the royal emblems, similar to the Red Rose, Portcullis or Red Dragon. Greyhounds were used as an emblem back to the days of Edward III.

I spend a long time sat in the nave looking at the vaulted ceiling. It's a wonder.

Paxton Pits, Little Paxton

A gorgeous wintery walk around Paxton Pits - working sand and gravel mine. Reyka and I took a look in a hide but had a lot of bird watchers so we tried to discreetly leave (although a pram makes quite a racket). We walked in the wonderful winter sunshine and soaked up the quietness of the day. 

Wimpole Hall and hungry piggies

As brand new National Trust members, we wanted to take advantage of that by visiting a property. Our first visit as a family was to Wimpole Hal, well the farm and the cafe (an obligatory stop for every National Trust visit we have found). We looked at the horses, donkeys, chickens and went to see the pigs. It was feeding time and I could understand why Ali had brought Reyka’s ear defenders. It got lousy really loud. It’s as though they are never fed! But they are fed 3 times a day but the excitement was phenomenal.

Our Christmas present - Afternoon tea

We've definitely changed, Ali and I didn't buy Christmas presents this year, instead we took Reyka to her first afternoon tea at Fortnum and Mason. We went for the savoury option which included:

FINGER SANDWICHES

• Rare Breed Hen’s Egg Mayonnaise with English Cress
• Cucumber with Mint Cream Cheese
• Suffolk Ham with English Mustard
• Scottish Smoked Salmon with Tartare Dressing
• Coronation Chicken

SAVOURY SCONES

• Cornish Lobster Scone with Brandy Egg Cream Cheese
• Barber’s Cheddar and Spinach Scone with Tomato Chutney

 

AFTERNOON TEA SAVOURIES 

• Oeuf Drumkilbo
• Scotch Quails Egg
• Hot Smoked Salmon Pate with Caviar
• Duck Liver Mousse with Blackberry Jelly
• Wild Mushroom Truffle Éclair

Priory Country Park on the busiest day of the year

I didn't know that a New Years Day walk was a 'thing' but gosh Priory Country Park was busy. We've never ever seen it so packed. Luckily people are creatures of habit and we all tend to walk in a clockwise fashion. We like Priory park, free parking, a paved route and lots and lots of places for Sailor and Penny to sniff. A gloriously sunny walk to start the new year and reflect on ambitions for 2019, the year Reyka celebrates her first birthday and I celebrate my 40th:

• Blog more about our travels
• Get back into cooking instead of ready meals
• Improve my volunteering/ life balance 
• Spend more time with Sailor and Penny
• HAVE AN AMAZING TIME WITH REYKA ON SHARED PARENTAL LEAVE